Jalen Suggs emphasized urgency and maturity after the Orlando Magic closed a late push to defeat the Detroit Pistons 123-107 on Monday night at the Kia Center.
Orlando responded to a fourth-quarter rally with a decisive 14-2 run. Suggs said finishing games cleanly has been a focus during the final stretch of the season.
“Yeah. I thought it was great,” Suggs said. “This time of year, you got to win games.”
Suggs explained that the team has discussed the importance of closing out opponents without giving them momentum late.
“It’s just been something that we’ve had combos about, just putting teams away,” Suggs said. “Not giving them any life.”
The guard pointed to how quickly leads can disappear in the NBA when teams gain confidence.
“This league is so talented,” Suggs said. “You give the team some feel good and some swag going down to the end of the game… you’re talking about a one possession game and now you’re in a clutch game, which just didn’t have to be.”
Suggs said Orlando’s late run reflected improved composure.
“I think for us, taking the win for sure, taking that run at the end and a lot of stuff throughout the game we did really good,” Suggs said. “It’s an intentional effort to come down the stretch and go finish and put teams away.”
He added that those moments show the group’s growth.
“It shows a lot of maturity in your squad,” Suggs said. “For us, that’s just what we have to continue to try and keep accomplishing.”
The Magic have now won four of their last five games as they push for postseason positioning in a crowded Eastern Conference.
Suggs said the team’s focus remains simple despite the playoff race.
“It’s hard to think too much about anything else other than going to win the next game,” Suggs said. “You start looking at others and counting on others to do such and such, you put yourself in a bad spot.”
Instead, he stressed urgency with only a few games left in the regular season.
“When we step on the court, playing with that urgency, playing with the end-of-the-year urgency knowing what’s on the way,” Suggs said. “We have to go out and go get these games.”
Suggs also addressed the fan support in Orlando as the team approaches its final home game of the regular season.
“The city of Orlando knows how I feel about them,” Suggs said. “Not only just from the fan perspective, but just from the human side of things. Everybody that I’ve got to meet there has been amazing.”
He acknowledged the season’s challenges while asking fans to stay engaged.
“I know it’s been frustrating. I know it’s been a tough year,” Suggs said. “But we really need the energy and the effort from y’all when we come in this building.”
Suggs finished with 12 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals in the win. He said his approach at point guard focuses on decision-making rather than just collecting assists.
“For me, I just got to put them in positions to be successful,” Suggs said. “But for me it was less of the assists today… it was the turnovers that I was trying to pay attention to.”
Ball security was a key personal objective.
“If I can stay at that one, two range and anything under that, that’s ideal,” Suggs said. “I know that helps our team out.”
Suggs summarized the team’s mindset entering the final stretch.
“None of us are satisfied with just getting here again,” Suggs said. “The sense of urgency is the more proper term… because it is. It’s time.”
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